Poverty measurament

Measurement of the levels of poverty continues to raise controversies. The present work probes some of the unresolved issues on poverty measurement and discusses three basic problems related to it. The controversy regarding the use of calorie norm versus monetary norm is discussed in a theoretical framework. The validity of generating a poverty series by inflating a calorie linked monetary norm by an appropriate price inflater is questioned and an alternative is suggested. Inter-temporal changes in calorie intake are explained in terms of distributional changes, shifts in food basket as well as its price structure besides other variables, with the help of an analytical model. The model is developed to analyse inter-temporal as well as inter regional in calorie intake using data of Kerala and Rajasthan. The analysis is useful not only for a deeper understanding of the changes in nutritional poverty but also is an important methodological contribution.
The available Rajasthan Data is analysed in detail to generate a poverty profile to throw light on the paradox of a low poverty level to a low level of per capita income in the State,
The book is an important addition to the literature on poverty and will generate more research and interest in the area.